Hi °C | Lo °C Four years ago Andrew Trimble watched the Rugby World Cup in Australia on television at his home in Coleraine with friends and family.
He had only just left Coleraine Academical Institution and while watching his heroes do battle Down Under, he never believed that four years on he would be at the heart of the action having been named in the starting XV for tomorrow's pool D opener against Namibia (kick-off 8.00pm BST).
Ireland may be expected to win easily against their lowly opponents, but that expectation has done little to dampen Trimble's boyish excitement at making his World Cup debut.
"I never thought I would get the opportunity to represent Ireland at a World Cup and I have got that chance now," he said. "I have got that chance now and as well as the rest of the boys, even those who have been here before, we are extremely excited.
"This is a special group of players and we know that we have the potential to do big things in this World Cup. That puts a little bit of pressure on us but at the same time the potential makes us really excited."
Trimble finds himself back on the right wing for tomorrow night's encounter at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux, set for a 35,000 sell-out following the Irish invasion of the French city last night, having deputised for Brian O'Driscoll in the midfield during the captain's injury-enforced absence.
Shifting positions is never ideal, but Trimble isn't phased.
"I don't thing I have been settled in one position long enough for it to be a problem," he added. "In the last couple of years I have been switching around between wing and centre and it is not a problem. The best players in the world can play two or more positions and that's where I want to get to."
Meanwhile, Ireland winger Denis Hickie has overcome a mild bout of tonsillitis and will take his place in the Ireland side tomorrow.
Ireland: G Dempsey: A Trimble, B O'Driscoll, capt, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, R Best, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, S Easterby, D Leamy, D Wallace. Replacements: J Flannery, N Best, M O'Kelly, S Best, I Boss, P Wallace, G Murphy.
Namibia: T Losper; R Witbooi, B Langenhoven, P van Zyl, H Bock; E Wessels, E Jantjies; K Lensing (captain), H Horn, J du Toit, W Kazombiaze, N Esterhuize, J Nieuwenhuis, H Senekal, J Burger. Replacements: J Meyer, J Redelinghuys, M MacKenzie, T du Plessis, J van Tonder, LW Botes, M Africa.
